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My new Phily NeighborhoodBy Madelyn Miller, the TravelladyNo, I have not moved to Phily. But the birth of my first grandbaby, the handsome Hudson Rex Miller (doesn’t that name sound like a future movie star?) is making Philadelphia my second home. No, I do not have a real home here. But I will be testing all the Phily hotels as I visit the young prince (his initials are HRM, after all) MY FIRST SECOND HOMEFirst up, The Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel This hotel built in 1926 is a landmark building designed in English Renaissance style by local architect Frank Hahn. The property features a spacious and elegant lobby, sits in the prestigious Rittenhouse Square district and is popular with both leisure and business travelers. The hotel has recently renovated guest rooms and amenities include a fitness center, business center, room service, and valet parking. The Radisson Plaza/Warwick Hotel has a new bar/lounge that is popular and has a great happy hour. It is called Tavern 17. Be sure to check it out while you are there. Almost anything you could want is within walking distance. What a great neighborhood. Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel WHAT’S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?Restaurants, Shops, Bars And Coffee Shops In Rittenhouse
Square Continental Mid-Town – The global tapas menu, mini desserts
not meant for sharing and a see-and-be-seen penthouse patio bar draws hip
locals. 1801 Chestnut Street, Di Bruno Bros. – Famous for its fine selection of Italian cheeses and meats, this locally owned gourmet mega-store also offers made-to-order sandwiches and wonderful cappuccino and pastries. 1730 Chestnut Street, (215) 665-9220, www.dibruno.com La Creperie Cafe – This reasonably priced French café specializes in both sweet and savory crepes—try the feta with tomatoes and basil or fresh strawberries with cream. 1722 Sansom Street, (215) 564-6460 Le Bar Lyonnais – Still one of the best-kept secrets in town, Le Bec-Fin’s intimate downstairs bar offers the delights of Georges Perrier’s cooking at a fraction of the price. 1523 Walnut Street, (215) 567-1000, www.lebecfin.com Mantra – Patrons get in touch with their inner Zen at this bi-level Asian restaurant/lounge, with globetrotting bites like Hoisin BBQ chicken roll, Mongolian firepot and Persian nut rub drumettes. 122 S. 18th Street, (215) 988-1211 Pietro’s Coal Oven Pizzeria – The crust on this top-shelf
pizza is thin and crispy thanks to the heat of the coal-fired ovens. Menu also
includes pasta dishes and salads. Sansom Street Oyster House – This venerable fish house boasts a great raw bar and serves fried and grilled seafood and updated dishes like sesame-crusted tuna served medium rare in a ginger-soy reduction. 1516 Sansom Street, (215) 567-7683, www.sansomoysters.com Smith’s Restaurant and Lounge – Start with the Schuylkill
spring roll (a new way to eat a cheesesteak) and move onto the inventive
sandwiches and flatbread pizza at this new contemporary American spot. 39-41 S.
19th Street, (267) 546-2669, Snackbar – This boutique snackery offers just eight tables and a half dozen seats at the bar, but locals line up for pastries in the morning and an intriguing small plates menu all day until 2:00 a.m. 53 S. 20th Street, (215) 545-5655, www.phillysnackbar.com Striped Bass – Located in a former brokerage house, this
glam seafood restaurant features the inspired seafood creations of chef Rob
Boone, a great bar scene and a complimentary raw bar during Friday night Happy
Hour. 1500 Walnut Street, Tavern 17 – This new spot at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel Philadelphia offers New American small plates like mini-sliders, lovash with garlicky dips and a tasty pulled chicken club. 220 S. 17th Street, (215) 790-1799, www.tavern17restaurant.com Tinto – Award-winning chef Jose Garces follows the success of his Old City restaurant Amada with this cozy eatery serving pintxos, the variety of tapas found in the Basque region of Spain. 114 S. 20th Street, (215) 665-9150, www.tintowinebar.com Tria – An eclectic wine bar and cheese lounge, Tria offers boutique beers, a global wine list and a menu of tapas-style plates. 123 S. 18th Street, (215) 972-5585, www.triacafe.com Twenty Manning – This sleekly modern neighborhood spot serves up chef Kiong Banh’s outstanding Asian-influenced global fare. 261 S. 20th Street, (215) 731-0900, www.twentymanning.com Tea, Coffee and Confections: Bonte – Belgian street vendor-style crispy waffles come filled with everything from chocolate to bananas, with cups of La Colombe coffee on the side. 130 S. 17th Street, (215) 557-8510, www.bontewaffles.com Café Hausbrandt – Brewing is an art form at this fragrant Italian-owned coffee house, which offers free WiFi and excellent pastries. 207 S. 15th Street, (215) 735-2242, www.hausbrandtusa.com Empyrean Coffee – Comfy couches, rich java and great people
watching from the window seats up front make this spot a local favorite. 1921
Walnut Street, Great Tea International – This serene tearoom carries a
wide range of aromatic loose-leaf teas from around the world. 1724 Sansom
Street, (215) 568-7827, La Colombe – Daniel Boulud is just one chef who favors the
beans from this elegant European-style café, which serves its java in beautiful
flowered china. Metropolitan Bakery – A Philadelphia institution, Metropolitan features wonderful breads, spreads, scones and sweets, just off of Rittenhouse Square. 262 S. 19th Street, (215) 545-6655, www.metropolitanbakery.com Miel Patisserie – Gourmet desserts, sophisticated sweets and handcrafted, artisan chocolates line the cases at this sophisticated shop. 204 S. 17th Street, (215) 731-9191, www.mielpastry.com Premium Steap – Tea is the new coffee at this cozy teahouse, featuring some 140 varieties of loose-leaf tea and a signature tea au lait. 111 S. 18th Street, (215) 568-2920, www.wayneteasalon.com Remedy Tea Bar – This stylish café sells traditional teas
along with “nouveau drinks,” such as tea lattes, blended tea drinks and
mar“tea”nis. 1628 Sansom Street, Tuscany Café – This relaxed coffee spot goes beyond quality lattes with fresh wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries. 226 W. Rittenhouse Square, (215) 772-0605 Shops: AIA BookStore & Design Center – Owned and operated by the American Institute of Architects, this eclectic shop is the place for books, gifts and collectibles relating to the design arts. 117 S. 17th Street, (215) 569-3188, www.aiaphila.org Benjamin Lovell Shoes – This shop is proof positive that fashionable shoes don’t have to hurt. 119 S. 18th Street, (215) 564-4655, www.benjaminlovell.com Bluemercury – A one-stop shop for all things relating to
personal beauty care and cosmetics, this store stocks brands like Kiehl’s,
Bliss, Red Flower and more. Coeur – Peruse this beautiful boutique for designer
lingerie from the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, along with accessories and some
menswear too. 132 S. 17th Street, Dahlia – Shop for treasures from the Holy Land at Dahlia,
which offers handcrafted jewelry from Israel, along with a wide range of Judaica.
2003 Walnut Street, Details – Home accessories, designer greeting cards and invitations and unusual gifts invite browsing at this cozy shop. 131 S. 18th Street, (215) 977-9559 Gallery 339 – Located in a stunning Center City space, this modern gallery is the most ambitious venue for fine art photography in town. 339 S. 21st Street, (215) 731-1530, www.gallery339.com Kimberly Boutique – Trendy looks for the fashion forward by the likes of Ed Hardy, Tibi and Betsey Johnson await shoppers here. Style-savvy staff can help pull looks together. 123 S. 16th Street, (215) 564-1066, www.kimberlyboutique.com Lagos – Stylish museum-quality jewelry created by
internationally known local artists Steven and Ann Lagos is featured at this gem
of a boutique. 1735 Walnut Street, Papyrus – All-things paper, from greeting cards to gift wrap, gift bags, note cards, journals and unique gifts, can be found here. 211 S. 17th Street, (215) 545-2680, www.papyrusonline.com Petulia’s Folly – Brilliant print dresses, delicate designer duds and upscale linens keep company with imported soaps and candles at this fetching boutique. 1710 Sansom Street, (215) 569-1344, www.petuliasfolly.com Pooch – Rittenhouse Square’s hip pet boutique features
designs by Nancy Adler, who uses vintage fabrics to make collars and leashes
with matching belts for humans. Shops at Liberty Place – High-end specialty boutiques such
as Caviar Assouline and Linde Meyer Gold & Silver mix with national chains like
Express, J. Crew and Ann Taylor Loft on the bottom floors of this high-rise
building. 1625 Chestnut Street, South Moon Under – What started as an Ocean City Maryland surf shop is now an eclectic resort wear boutique featuring designs by Betsey Johnson, Shoshanna, True Religion, Ella Moss, Ben Sherman and more. 1731 Chestnut Street, (215) 563-2298, www.southmoonunder.com Town Home – This store is the place to go for designer home accessories, the kind of stuff found at Barney’s, Fred Segal or Bergdorf’s. 126 S. 19th Street, (215) 972-5100, www.townhomephila.com Nightclubs and Entertainment: Bar Noir – Black-and-white film noir clips set the stage for a late night DJ scene at this underground haunt. 112 S. 18th Street, (215) 569-1160 Bob and Barbara’s Lounge – One of the best juke boxes in town, occasional live music and the city’s longest-running drag show on Thursdays makes B&B’s a funky, diverse spot. 1509 South Street, (215) 545-4511 Chris’ Jazz Café – Local and national jazz acts take the stage here every night but Sunday. 1421 Sansom Street, (215) 563-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com D’Angelo’s Ristorante Italiano – This Italian restaurant
turns into a disco on the weekends when an older crowd of partiers hits the
dance floor. 256 S. 20th Street, Good Dog Bar and Restaurant – Ideal for a drink and some conversation, this friendly bar has a great juke box, good bar food and a whimsical canine theme. Try the blue cheese-stuffed burger. 224 S. 15th Street, (215) 985-9600, www.gooddogbar.com Helium Comedy Club – Stand-up comedy goes for the laughs
Wednesday through Saturday nights at this intimate venue, which also offers
drinks, snacks and desserts. Loie – Mild-mannered restaurant by day, this classic French bistro morphs into a late night scene with DJs spinning at 10:00 p.m. 128 S. 19th Street, (215) 568-0808 Nodding Head – Besides award-winning microbrews, this
second floor eatery goes beyond bar food with a menu that includes tasty
vegetarian selections. Prime Rib – The bar at this dressy, retro-cool steak house features live jazz standards and sultry vocals. 1701 Locust Street, (215) 772-1701, www.theprimerib.com Roxy Theater – Foreign and indie films are screened at this
cozy art movie house. Rum Bar – Feast on Caribbean flavors and sip premium island
rum while late night DJs heat up the scene. Two-for-one mojitos bring crowds in
on Monday nights. Tank Bar – Located upstairs at Friday, Saturday, Sunday restaurant, this longtime favorite spot for romantic encounters features a 135-gallon tropical fish tank and an intimate setting. 261 S. 21st Street, (215) 546-4232 Ten Stone Bar & Restaurant – Belly up to the bar for a friendly, Brit-pub experience that offers a good opportunity to mingle with locals from the ’hood, along with a yummy sandwich menu. 2063 South Street, (215) 735-9939 Tritone – This hipster hideaway features a quirky schedule
of bands and DJs playing everything from jazz and blues to rock-and-roll
cabaret. 1508 South Street, JUST A FEW MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PHILYFOR MORE INFORMATION visit
www.gophila.com and check out the blog
www.uwishunu.com GREAT SAVINGS BEST DESSERTS Naked Chocolate Café Maron Chocolates BEST PLACE TO GET CONNECTED Ing Direct does more than just save you money. It gives you
a free wireless internet connection. They even have about a dozen computers you
can use for free to surf if you are in the neighborhood without your computer.
FAVORITE STORES P.H.A.G Show of Hands GREAT GUIDEBOOKS ACCESS PHILADELPHIA THE THIRTEEN COLONIES |
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